Draft-frame for vehicles



(No M61181.

A. 8?; G. E. .WNUGK.

Draft Frame for Vehicles.

N0. 241,110. v Patented May-3,1881.

"1 g 7 My N. PETERS, Fhofo-Lithogmpher, Washington, D. C.

IJ'NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST VVNUCK AND CHARLES E. WNUCK, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

DRAFT-FRAME FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 241,110,dated May 3,1881.

Application filed February 18, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AUGUST VVNUOK and CHARLES E. WNUCK, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Draft-Equalizing Frames, ofwhich the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to that class of vehicles in which a tongue orpole is used, suitably connected to the forward axle of the same, andisdesigned to overcome the disadvantages of the ordinary connection byproviding a draft-equalizer so constructed and arranged that the centerof the axle may be relieved of the strain which it sustains in theordinary construction, and provide a lighter and stronger constructionof the parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

Our invention is embodied in mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a plan View of our invention, and Fig. 2is a side elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in bothspecification and drawings.

A in the drawings designates the tongue of a carriage or other vehicleB, the forward axle; C, the frame or draft-equalizer connecting thetongue A with the axle B.

As ordinarily constructed, the tongue or pole of a carriage or otherlight vehicle is attached to the center of a bowed equalizing-bar, theends of which are pivoted to the forward axle, near the outer ends, bymeans of axle-clips. It is obvious that as thus constructed the centerof the axle, which sustains the greater part of the backward strain, isleft unsupported at this point, and the axle has a tendency to becomebent, and thus thrown out of the proper alignment, thereby destroyingthe proper parallelism of the forward wheels.

This disadvantage we overcome by providin g a draft-equalizer, C,consisting, essentially, of three arms or bars, A h h, united by thebraces c c, and connected with the tongue and forward axle in thefollowing manner: At 0*, Fig. 2, the arm A of the connecting-frame isbifurcated, the upper prong constituting the strap E, for holding thedouble-tree, provided with an eye, for the insertion of the kin g-bolt,the lower prong, extending to d, thus forming a supporting-bracket forthe tongue.

The parts E and d, in connection with the central braces, 00, of theframe, form a recess at 1", into which the end of the tongue is fittedand secured, thus pre venting its lateral or vertical movement. Thetongue is then secured to the supportin g-bracket at by a bolt or screw1). The forward ends of the equalizing-bars h [L are bent parallel toand fitted to the sides of the tongue, and secured thereto by the screwsor bolts 8 s", the other ends being connected with the axle at D D inthe usual manner by means of axle-clips.

The central bar, A, of the frame C is connected with the axle at D asfollows: Underneath the axle are secured by means of clips or in anyother suitable manner the straps s s, the forward ends of which areformed into eyes for the reception of a pin or bolt, 1), and spaced asuitableinterval apart for the insertion of the end D of the centralbar, A, of the frame, also formed into an eye, which is placed betweenthe ends of the straps at s s, and the bolt 12 inserted through theirrespective eyes, and secured by a retaining-nut, or in any othersuitable manner, thus constituting a pintle for the vertical movement ofthe frame, which is con nected to the axle at three points-via, at thecenter and near the ends. Itis apparentthat as thus constructed thecenterof the axle is relieved of the backward strain, and a more equaldistribution of the draft secured.

At 0 e, on the arms h h of the equalizingframe, are provided ears,properly slotted for the reception of straps or hands passed looselyaround the double-tree, pivoted at p, which are designed to prevent toogreat an oscillation of the double-tree.

In vehicles of light construction, such as pleasure-carriages, in whichlightness of construction, elegance of design, and beauty of finish aredesirable, the advantages of ourinvention over the ordinary constructionare apparcut, as by its use the axle may be made smaller and of lightermaterial; the cumbersome bowed equalizing-bar heretofore used may bedispensed with, and the lighter and more efficient equalizing-framehereinbefore described substituted, the central braces, 0 c, of whichmay be wrought into any desired design, adding beauty and finish to thewhole.

Having described our invention, we claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent- 1. The combination, with the pole of a vehiole, of two side armshaving a pivotal connection with the front axle, and adapted to swingvertically thereon, the outer ends of said arms being connected with thepole, and a central bar abutting against the rear end of the pole tosupport it against thrusts, and having apivotal connection with the axleat its rear, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In combination with the tongue and forward axle of a vehicle, thedraft-equalizer 0, consisting, essentially, of the bars A hh, united bythe braces c a, and connected with the axle at 1) D all substantially asand for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set 15 our hands in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUST WNUOK. CHAS. E. WNUOK. YVitnesses L. M. HosEA, O. P. DOOLITTLE.

